Downloading map segment(s) to a cell phone based upon its GPS coordinates and mobility

1. A method for operating a wireless terminal to display a map segment on a display of the wireless terminal, the method comprising:

accessing a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver of the wireless terminal to determine location coordinates of the wireless terminal;

determining a maximum data size for a map segment download based upon a data size of currently available memory and an estimated data size required for other application uses;

sending a map segment download request to a server via a supporting wireless network infrastructure, the map segment download request including the location coordinates and the maximum data size;

receiving a map segment corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal, the map segment having a data size no greater than the maximum data size and a level of detail corresponding to the maximum data size; and

displaying the map segment and an icon that represents the wireless terminal on the display, the icon displayed on the map segment at a location corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum data size is further based upon a data size of prior map segment(s) that may be overwritten.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a map segment downloading latency;

determining a rate of motion of the wireless terminal;

estimating a duration of time when future location coordinates of the wireless terminal will depart from a current map segment; and

when the map segment downloading latency compares unfavorably to the duration of time, sending a map segment download request to a map server via the supporting wireless network infrastructure.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the map segment downloading latency comprises:

estimating a data download rate from a servicing map server;

estimating a data size of a map segment to be downloaded; and

determining the map segment downloading latency based upon the download rate and the data size.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the map segment has geographic boundaries selected to meet the maximum data size.

6. A method for operating a Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled wireless terminal, the method comprising:

accessing a GPS receiver of the wireless terminal to determine location coordinates of the wireless terminal;

detecting entering of a premises based upon comparing the location coordinates to stored premises location coordinates;

establishing communications with a premises map server via a wireless link;

downloading a premises map from the premises map server, the premises map comprising:

a plurality of points of interest; and

GPS coordinates respective to the plurality of points of interest; and

displaying the premises map on the display.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising displaying an icon that represents the wireless terminal along with the premises map on the display at a location corresponding to the location coordinates.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising establishing wireless communications with a premises wireless access point by:

detecting the premises wireless access point;

querying the premises wireless access point to request access; and

receiving an access grant from the premises wireless access point.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

discovering the premises map server based upon interaction with the premises wireless access point; and

sending a premises map download request to the premises map server.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining an orientation of the wireless terminal with respect to a reference direction; and

orienting the premises map on the display based upon the orientation of the wireless terminal so that the premises map is displayed in a correct orientation with reference to mapped physical features.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining a maximum data size for a premises map download; and

sending a premises map download request to the premises map server that includes the maximum data size.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the premises map has a data size no greater than the maximum data size.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the premises map has geographic boundaries selected to meet the maximum data size.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the premises map has a level of detail that causes a data size of the premises map to be no greater than the maximum data size.

15. A method for operating a wireless terminal to display a map segment on a display of the wireless terminal, the method comprising:

accessing a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver of the wireless terminal to determine location coordinates of the wireless terminal;

determining a map segment downloading latency;

determining a rate of motion of the wireless terminal;

based upon the rate of motion of the wireless terminal, estimating a duration of time when future location coordinates of the wireless terminal will depart from a current map segment;

when the map segment downloading latency compares unfavorably to the duration of time:

determining a maximum data size for a map segment download based upon a data size of currently available memory and an estimated data size required for other application uses; and

sending a map segment download request to the map server via the supporting wireless network infrastructure that includes the location coordinates of the wireless terminal and the maximum data size;

receiving a map segment in response to the map segment download request; and

displaying the map segment and an icon that represents the wireless terminal on the display, the icon displayed on the map segment at a location corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining the map segment downloading latency comprises:

estimating a data download rate from a servicing map server;

estimating a data size of a map segment to be downloaded; and

determining the map segment downloading latency based upon the download rate and the data size.

17. The method of claim 15 :

further comprising determining a direction of motion of the wireless terminal; and

wherein estimating the duration of time when future location coordinates of the wireless terminal will depart from the current map segment further considers the direction of motion of the wireless terminal.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the maximum data size is further based upon a data size of prior map segment(s) that may be overwritten.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the map segment has geographic boundaries selected to meet the maximum data size.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the map segment has a level of detail that causes the data size of the map segment to be no greater than the maximum data size.

21. A wireless terminal comprising:

a wireless interface;

a user interface including a display;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and

a processing unit communicatively coupled to the wireless interface, the user interface, and the GPS receiver and operable to:

access a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver of the wireless terminal to determine location coordinates of the wireless terminal;

determine a maximum data size for a map segment download based upon a data size of currently available memory and an estimated data size required for other application uses;

send a map segment download request to a server via a supporting wireless network infrastructure, the map segment download request including the location coordinates and the maximum data size,

receive a map segment corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal, the map segment having a data size no greater than the maximum data size and a level of detail corresponding to the maximum data size; and

display the map segment and an icon that represents the wireless terminal on the display, the icon displayed on the map segment at a location corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal.

22. A wireless terminal comprising:

a wireless interface;

a user interface including a display;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and

a processing unit communicatively coupled to the wireless interface, the user interface, and the GPS receiver and operable to:

access a GPS receiver of the wireless terminal to determine location coordinates of the wireless terminal;

detect entering of a premises based upon comparing the location coordinates to stored premises location coordinates;

establish communications with a premises map server via a wireless link;

download a premises map from the premises map server, the premises map comprising:

a plurality of points of interest; and

GPS coordinates respective to the plurality of points of interest; and

display the premises map on the display.

23. A wireless terminal comprising:

a wireless interface;

a user interface including a display;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and

a processing unit communicatively coupled to the wireless interface, the user interface, and the GPS receiver and operable to:

access a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver of the wireless terminal to determine location coordinates of the wireless terminal;

determine a map segment downloading latency;

determine a rate of motion of the wireless terminal;

based upon the rate of motion of the wireless terminal, estimate a duration of time when future location coordinates of the wireless terminal will depart from a current map segment;

when the map segment downloading latency compares unfavorably to the duration of time:

determine a maximum data size for a map segment download based upon a data size of currently available memory and an estimated data size required for other application uses; and

send a map segment download request to the map server via the supporting wireless network infrastructure that includes the location coordinates of the wireless terminal and the maximum data size;

receive a map segment in response to the map segment download request; and

display the map segment and an icon that represents the wireless terminal on the display, the icon displayed on the map segment at a location corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal.